Bathing cap



M. BOZOCOS Jan. 1, 1963 BATHING CAP Filed May 20. 1960 0 .4- fly INVENTOR.

414e, Eazocas United States Patent Ofihce 3,076,805 Fafented Jan. 1, 1963 3,070,805 BATE-KING CAP Mary Bozocos, 4435 10th Ave, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed May 20, 196i), Ser. No. 30,565 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-68) The present invention relates generally to bathing caps and more particularly to a novel and improved bathing cap which is completely watertight.

Bathing caps are conventionally formed of thin rubher or plastic material and are designed to fit snugly on the head of a wearer when in use. the conventional bathing cap fits the wearers head tightly, the edge of the cap will not engage the head closely enough to positively prevent the entrance of water between the edge of the cap and the skin. This generally results in damage to the wearers hair wave. This damage will occur where the bathing cap wearer is swimming or alternatively taking a shower.

It is a major object of the present invention to provide a bathing cap which is positively waterproof and will effectively prevent damage t w the wearers hair wave.

The bathing cap of the present invention will additionally positively protect the ears against the inadvertent introduction of water into the auditory canal. It is well known that the presence of water in the auditory canal causes discomfort and in some cases hearing damage.

While the bathing cap of the present invention is eflective to prevent the entrance of water between the edge of the cap and the wearers skin, it will not subject the wearer to the discomforts of a conventional tightly fitting rubber bathing cap.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bathin cap of the aforedescribed nature which is economical of manufacture and which may have an attractive appearance.

Anoiher object of the present inventon is to provide a bathing cap having its lower edge adapted to receive a seal tape. The upper portion of this seal tape is adhered to the exterior of the lower edge of the bathing cap, with the lower portion of such tape being removably adhereable to the skin of the wearer when the bathing cap is to be worn. The seal tape is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive and a readily removable covering for such adhesive is also provided. With this arrangement, the covering need not be removed until such time as the bathing cap has been applied to the wearers head and fully adjusted. This eliminates the possibility of the pressure sensitive adhesive contacting the hair of the wearers head.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred form of bathing cap embodying the present invention as it appears in position upon a wearers head;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the upper front portion of said bathing cap;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the front central portion of said bathing cap during the application thereof to the wearers head;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing the appearance of said bathing cap after it has been applied to the wearers head; and

FIGURE 5 is a side view which is partially broken away in the interest of clarity showing a seal tape utilized in conjunction with said bathing cap.

Referring to the drawings, the preferred form of bathing cap embodying the present invention includes a crown section S that is adapted to completely cover the hair However, although of the wearers head as well as the wearers ears. The bathing cap also includes a seal tape T having one of its sides coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive, as indicated at 10 in FIGURES 2 and 5, and a flexible cover ing C for the pressure sensitive adhesive.

The crown section S may be formed of a water and moisture impervious sheet material, such as a thin sheet of synthetic plastic, synthetic rubber, natural rubber or the like. The crown section S is of a shape to provide ample housing or enclosure for the arrangeable hair of the wearers head and to fit smoothly over the wearers forehead, face and neck below the ears. The lower edge of the crown section S defines an opening that receives the wearers head. The exterior margin of the crown section S lying immediately without and above its lower edge defines a seal tape-receiving area 14. Conveniently, the upper extreme of this seal tape-receiving area 14 will be defined by an integral protuberance such as a head 16 molded into the material of the crown section and extending outwardly relative to the main body thereof.

The seal tape T is formed of a flexible, waterproof material. Such material should additionally be tear resistant. This type of material may be similar to that employed in conventional bandages of the type having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof, with such adhesive making it possible to removably adhere the bandage to the users skin. Both this material and the pressure sensitive adhesive are well known in the art. Such pressure sensitive adhesive is of a type which readily adheres to the human skin to form a watertight moisturetight, air-tight seal therewith without injuring the skin during its application thereto and during the subsequent stripping of the tape T from the skin. The length of the seal tape T should correspond to the peripheral length of the seal tape-receiving area 14.

The flexible covering C will preferably comprise a flexible, pliable and tear resistant material which is especially treated to reduce the aflinity of the tape for the adhesive. This material is likewise well known in the art. Preferably the seal tape T includes a pair of parallel upper and lower strips 18 and 20, respectively, with such strips being independently removable from the tape T.

In use, the bathing cap embodying the present invention is placed on the wearers head in the usual fashion and the entire annular lower marginal portion of the crown section S is adjusted to smoothly encompass the head below the arrangeable hair line and ears of the wearer. Prior to this step, however, the seal tape T will be disposed in a generally, vertically extending position and the upper strip 18 of the covering C will be removed from the upper part of the pressure sensitive adhesive of the tape T and the upper portion of this tape adhered to the tape-receiving area 14 of the crown section S. With the crown section arranged in its desired position, the lower strip 29 of the flexible covering C will be removed from the lower portion of the tape T, as indicated in FIGURES 2 and 3. Thereafter, the lower portion of the seal tape T may be adhered to the skin of the wearer. The intimate adhesive connection between the lower edge of the crown section S and the wearers skin at this time is indicated in FIGURE 4. The seal tape T is inexpensive and will preferably be replaced after each use.

It will be apparent that the aforedescribed bathing cap will provide a watertight seal against the entrance of water between the cap opening and the wearers skin. Since the cap opening is under only slight, if any, tension it conforms to and firmly adheres to the skin in all planes of the forehead, face and neck of the wearer even when the head is twisted from side to side and even though the wearers head is submerged. At the same time the wearer will feel no discomfort as is the case with the conventional tightly-fitting bathing cap. If desired, a conventional strap 22 may interconnect the lower side portions of the crown section S so as to provide securement of the balhing cap in place. Also, it is desirable that the interior of the crown section S be lined with silk. This feature enhances the caps appearance and also facilitates the application and removal thereof. The aforedescribed bathing cap will provide a long and trouble-free service life.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to the foregoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A bathing cap, comprising: a crown section to completely cover the hair of the wearers head, the lower edge of said crown section defining an opening that receives the wearers head, with the exterior margin of said crown section lying immediately without and above said lower edge defining a seal tape-receiving area, and the upper extreme of said area being defined by an outwardly extending protuberance formed on said crown section; a seal tape that includes a pair of parallel upper and lower strips, each of said strips having one of its sides coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive material, with said upper strip being adapted to be adheredto the seal tape-receiving area of said crown section; and a. flexible covering for each of said strips of said seal tape, said covering being removable from said adhesive mate rial when said bathing cap is to be worn whereby the upper strip of said seal tape may first be removably adhered to said seal tape-receiving area whereafter the lower strip may be removably adhered to the skin of said wearer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,971,788 Lampe Aug. 28, 1934 2,353,403 Howland July 11, 1944 2,730,720 Saunders Jan. 17, 1956 

